HATCHET MAN: Alarm bells at West Ham as XS Zola is latest in long line of U21 boss failures

Gianfranco Zola may have the ability to charm the birds from the trees but he will have to buck historical precedent to succeed as West Ham manager.

Hatchet Man is not sure how many birds - or indeed trees - there are around Upton Park in London's East End but the omens - including the club's sponsor XL going into administration as they appoint Zola XS - are not good.

The records of former Under 21 coaches, Italian and English, make scary reading.

XL problems: Gianfranco Zola is all smiles at Upton Park yesterday

Italy's junior team was formed in 1976 and not one of their managers has gone on to club success after working with them.

Marco Tardelli (1998-2000) was a complete disaster with Inter and Bari and although a couple of others in the early days went on to manage Italy's senior team, it is a far cry from the Premier League.

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England's Under 21 managers, if anything, have been even worse in club management after their stints on international duty.

Think Howard Wilkinson at Sunderland setting a record points low in getting them relegated, Peter Taylor at Leicester wasting money on Ade 'Akinbadbuy' and David Platt giving up on management altogether.

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Head-scratcher: Howard Wilkinson

For Pete's sake: Peter Taylor

Taylor's minor successes in the lower divisions with other clubs will be no consolation and bringing in true Chelsea blue Steve Clarke as Zola's assistant will be a risky move. He may add Premier League know-how but if things go wrong the dour Scot's Stamford Bridge connections will put him in the firing line.

Still, West Ham fans can take a crumb of consolation from this week's news: Nigel Quashie may be leaving on loan for Birmingham.